La ciudadela at archeological site of Teotihuacan. Photo: Mauricio Marat/INAH

MEXICO CITY.- Formulation of the Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone Management Plan by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is complete in its 80 per cent. The document integrates Prehispanic monuments and museums conservation strategies, infrastructure adaptation, social work at nearby communities and street vending reorganization, among other aspects.

The document put together by INAH Direction of Sites Operation and coordinated by Dr. Nelly Robles, where the 3 orders of the government participated, incorporates a general diagnosis of the archaeological zone, as well as specific and programmed actions that optimize administration of the most visited site in Mexico.

INAH general director, Alfonso de Maria y Campos, informed that as part of the Management Plan, a reorganization process takes place, which includes negotiation with nearby communities to buy land, specifically at Ejido La Purificacion. Agreements with Estado de Mexico Government and municipal authorities to enlarge the buffer zone that protects archaeological monuments are also being prepared.

San Juan Teotihuacan municipality develops, for the first time, a Municipal Development Plan that includes an archaeological chart that defines protected areas and considers the zone located at the east of the site an ecologic reserve. This will stop urbanization.

Dr. Nelly Robles declared that the document considers long, medium and short term actions that improve the sites operation internal and externally.

A public visit strategy is being developed to allow differentiation of adequate areas through a pilot program of thematic routes such as La Ventanilla, with a new approach that explains urban system, houses and rooms, as well as production areas, among other relevant topics.

Archaeologist Veronica Ortega, sub director of Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone, commented about the general diagnosis regarding Prehispanic buildings conservation state, on which actions oriented for their preservation will be based.

Social and educational work is being carried out to link inhabitants with the archaeological zone. The workshop Live your heritage is being imparted in primary and secondary schools of nearby communities: San Juan Teotihuacan, San Martin de las Piramides, San Francisco Mazapa, Santa Maria Coatlan y San Sebastian Xolapan.

The Management Plan also includes PREVINAH Program guidelines regarding security norms for the zone, signalization for natural or human contingencies, staff training in civil protection issues, evacuation routes and other topics UNESCO requires to keep the zone inscribed in the World Heritage List.

On the short term, negotiation tables will be established with the 2 official vendor groups that work at Teotihuacan to determine specific areas where this activity will take place.

On the medium term, Beatriz de la Fuente Mural Paintings Museum, Teotihuacan Site Museum and the Temporary Exhibitions Hall (former archaeological site museum) will go through museographic adaptations to modernize their discourse.

On the long term, a special visit program for different publics, with routes based on specific themes such as mural painting, palaces and dwelling conjuncts, monuments area and landscapes is to be implemented.

The document also incorporates an integral waste management program. Organic residues will be treated to obtain fertilizer that will be used in the zones green areas, while inorganic waste is to be separated and recycled.